This time of year we’re all focused on one thing: Thanksgiving. Whether you’re hosting (and preparing) a big feast, organizing a family/friend potluck, or you’re lucky enough to have simply been invited to a Turkey Day gathering, the big day of stuffing our faces and finding a cozy spot for napping afterwards is almost here. The menus are usually pretty simple: turkey, cranberry relish, maybe green beans and definitely stuffing, or dressing depending on where you’re from.

But one of the biggest dilemmas is settling on which wines to serve. With a cornucopia of different flavors dancing about the Thanksgiving table, it’s hard to know how to select a wine that will work well with everything you’re eating. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. This month I was faced with a few different selections for wine of the month. And after tasting two particular wines multiple times, I find myself grappling with indecision: A red with great character, lots of fruits but also great balance with earth and light tannin; or a very unique white wine with a bright floral nose and a mild, off-dry palate with hints of citrus and white flowers.

So I chose both.

And I think you’ll be pleased. These two wines are perfect for sipping o. Their own, but also fantastic with food–in many ranges of flavor. This month’s selection comes with help from Houston-based wine writer Dr. Russell Kane. But many people know of him for his blog, Vintagetexas.com. Kane has been a champion for the Texas wine industry for more than ten years sitting on number of speaking, judging and special Texas wine pairing panels. His passion for Texas wine is so great that he has spent the past few years trekking the far reaches of the state collecting stories and evaluations of terroir for his upcoming book The Wineslinger Chronicles–Texas on the Vine. (Released through Texas Tech University Press in February 2012.) He has passed his first level certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers and this year he was accepted into the Master of Wine program of study by the Institute of Masters of Wine, an extremely rigorous program involving tasting and wine theory that will give Kane the distinction as a Master of Wine.

But most importantly, he helped me narrow down these two wines from an extensive Texas Selection.

McPherson Cellars La Herencia, 2009

RED WINE: McPherson Cellars La Herencia, 2009

This primarily Spanish blend includes Tempranillo, Mourvedre, Carignan and Syrah–all grapes that are doing very well in Texas. According to Kane,

“This is one of the wines that I call an opportunity wine made from a blend of small lot grapes that could be bought, made into wine and sold at this great price. It is a lively, aromatic, fruit-forward wine with nuances of red and black fruits and Mediterranean herbs on the nose and palate.”

As with most McPherson wines, you’ll find this wine has a lot of character and complexity but in a very approachable way — a perfect description of the quintessential Texan! To enjoy this wine at its best, bring it to about 65 degrees by sticking it in your refrigerator about 10 minutes before serving.

WHITE WINE: Eaglefire Muscat Blanc, 2011 from the Caldwell Family Winery

If you’re familiar with the term ‘Muscat,’ please don’t turn up your nose at this suggestion. Many associate Muscat with sweet or dessert wines. While you will definitely find a hint of sugar on this wine, you’ll find it quickly floats away. Leaving a nice, dry finish. It has low alcohol at only 12.9% and a good deal of acidity making it perfect to pair with food–particularly spicy foods.

Caldwell Family winery is a small winery based in Houston. Though they make some wines with grapes from Napa, this wine is made completely from grapes grown in the Brenham area. The 2010 vintage was a gold medal winner in the 2011 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo International Wine Competition.

Eaglefire Muscat Blanc, 2009

“This is a beautiful wine with notes of floral jasmine combined with citrus blossoms,” says Kane. “This wine is made from the same grape as Asti Spumante but without the carbonation. You might think that this is crazy but spicy beef tamales served with red or green chili salsa is an amazing pairing for this Muscat.”

Crazy or not, both of these wines are sure crowd pleasers for Thanksgiving. You can find La Herencia (~$10) statewide at Spec’s (although I just nabbed the last three at the Spec’s on Brodie Lane in Austin–sorry!). You can only get the Eaglefire ($18) through the winery, but there’s still enough time to order!

Here’s to you and yours this Holiday season and here’s to the Texas wines you’ll hopefully be serving!

Red Wine: McPherson Cellars La Herencia, 2009

Price: ~$10

Availability: Spec’s. Check with winery for other locations.

White Wine: Eaglefire Muscat Blanc, 2011 (Caldwell Family Winery)

Price: $18

Availability: Winery

- Jessica Dupuy

Tagged: Eaglefire Caldwell Family Winery, Jessica Dupuy, McPherson Cellars, Russ Kane, VintageTexas